NRL: Jack Bird shoots down Danny Weidler reporting over St George Illawarra future
Jack Bird has gone on the attack, singling out a well-known journalist and claiming that he is peddling a false story about the star wanting out of the Dragons.
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Jack Bird has blasted reports he wants to quit the embattled Dragons and savaged fans campaigning for the sacking of coach Anthony Griffin.
Bird was buffeted by reports from Channel 9’s Danny Weidler on Monday night that he and teammate Jaydn Su’A could be looking to quit struggling St George Illawarra.
Manly has emerged as a potential new home for Bird given his connection with assistant coach Shane Flanagan from Cronulla’s 2016 premiership team and doubts over Josh Schuster’s future at Brookvale.
The Dragons have slumped to 16th on the ladder on the back of a five-game losing streak which has coach Anthony Griffin on the verge of being sacked.
They went into camp on the Gold Coast after last week’s Magic Round loss to the last-placed Tigers to prepare for Saturday night’s clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.
But they haven’t been able to escape the spotlight, with Bird and Su’A’s futures now coming under the microscope.
Weidler reported on 100% Footy that Su’A had been linked to clubs and “I heard some mail that Jack Bird has been ringing around looking for a new club”.
“Jack somehow got wind of me chasing that story and rang me today, got on the front foot and said he is going to be a Dragon, he’s staying at the Dragons,” Weidler said.
“There’s definitely been something going on, but Jack wants it made clear he is staying with the Dragons.”
That prompted Bird – who re-signed with the Dragons until the end of 2025 last year – to go on the attack at Royal Pines Resort on Wednesday morning.
“You know what footy’s like, that’s what journalists do, they make stories up to get some viewers,” Bird said.
“I’ve only just re-signed last year. It’s frustrating (losing) but I’m happy (at the Dragons). It’s hard to lose games but it is what it is.
“You’ve got to let the journalists do what they want to do, let them make stories up and run with it. You’ve got no control over those things.
“Like Danny said, I rang him when I heard about it and tried cooling the air and telling him not to do it. But he still goes ahead and does it.
“It doesn’t matter, they do what they want to do and you can’t control what they do.
“There’s no truth to it so if he wants to go and say that stuff, I can’t help it. He’s got the control over it.”
When asked if he would leave the Dragons if an opportunity elsewhere arose, Bird said: “Definitely not. I don’t think any other club’s in a financial situation to sign anyone at the moment.
“My future is here at the club. I’ve got another two years here and am willing to turn things around here. That’s what I want to do.
“I want to start winning games and that’s going to be here.
“I spoke to Danny and tried to get on the front foot with it all but he still reported it.
“It is what it is. You can’t control those things. That’s the media for you.
“They go out there and do what they’ve got to do, that’s their agenda to make stories up. I’ve got no control. I’ve just gotta sit back.
“I signed last year for another two years. At the moment I’m staying here.
“That’s the media and up to them, but my future is tight here.”
Su’A, who is off-contract at the end of 2024, stopped short of refuting the reports.
“I don’t know where those rumours come from,” he said.
“I’m playing with a bung shoulder at the moment and if I didn’t want to be here I wouldn’t be putting my body through what I’m putting it through.
“We’re in the news every day recently, so I guess I was the lucky one this week.”
While the combined losing margins of their five-game streak has been just 13 points, Griffin is considered to be on his last legs at the club.
Incensed Dragons fans have reportedly started petitioning for the coach to be sacked, prompting a savage response from Bird.
“Fans don’t really know too much about footy, I don’t think,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot to say about people on the field. I don’t think they’ve ever played a game of footy.
“I’m speaking from first-hand stuff that I’ve copped.
“I feel sorry for ‘Hook’ (Griffin). It’s us out there playing so we should be the ones to blame.
“Fans are good for the game and stuff like that, but it comes to a point where you can’t cop so much criticism over the players and coaching staff.
“People don’t know what people are going through these days. ‘Hook’ could be struggling or any player could be struggling outside of footy then people come on social media and give you a gobful.
“That might be the part where they push you over the edge.
“That’s fans for you. They’re passionate and want us to win games.
“We’re not doing that, so I understand where they’re coming from. But it speaks for itself.”
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